Wednesday’s main event, however, is the Business Expo and Resource Fair following the luncheon, expected to draw more than 200 exhibitors and more than 2,000 attendees to the convention center’s exhibit hall.

Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Made in Alabama and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the expo is slated to last from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., and admission is free with a business card.

Among the exhibitors will be 20 local, state and federal resource partners to assist small business owners with management, financial, procurement, marketing and technical assistance. Those partners include the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Office of Small Business Advocacy, ADECA’s Office of Minority Business Enterprise, the Alabama Small Business Development Center, Mobile MBDA Business Center and Women’s Business Alliance among others.